While US-based cruise lines are offering fares of $399 or even $349 for a week in the Med this month, it is worth looking at how much cruisers are spending on board. At fare levels like these, it could easily come to more than the original amount of the fare.Read more below but the moral of this story is don’t eliminate a cruise line on the basis that it is too expensive. As of next year all the top lines will be all-inclusive so remember to add at least 40% or 50% to the fare you’re quoted on any line that is not all-inclusive before you do your comparison. Then count the number of lower berths above 1,000 on the bigger ship and subtract $100 from the more expensive fare for each 500 beds above that mark (for crowding) and you will have a much better comparison.